A man made an attempt to breach security at the White House by leaping over a barricade, leading to swift action by US Secret Service officers who subdued him.
The incident occurred around 11:30 am local time on Thursday, triggering a security alert at the White House in Washington DC. The unidentified man scaled a construction bollard near the Treasury Building on the complex’s northeast side, according to a spokesperson from the Secret Service.
Law enforcement swiftly intercepted and apprehended the individual. During the ensuing physical confrontation, one officer sustained a minor injury that was not life-threatening. Both the officer and the suspect were transported to a nearby hospital for assessment.
Secret Service Communications Chief Anthony Guglielmi informed Newsweek that the man was swiftly detained by uniformed Secret Service police officers after his breach near the Treasury Building. The confrontation occurred near a pedestrian gate, resulting in the suspect’s arrest after a scuffle. Medical evaluations were conducted on both the officer and the suspect for their non-life-threatening injuries.
This incident follows a previous report by the US Secret Service on April 5 regarding gunfire in the vicinity of Lafayette Park, adjacent to the White House. No casualties were reported, and no suspect was located following a search of the park and its surroundings after midnight. President Donald Trump was present at the White House during that time.
While White House operations continued normally, security measures in the area were heightened. The Secret Service collaborated with the District of Columbia police and US Park Police to ensure safety and investigate the incidents.
In a separate incident in 2014, Omar Gonzalez, an Iraq War veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, breached security by jumping the fence on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House and gaining entry into the building before being apprehended by security personnel.
